Self-propelled torpedo.



R. DELAUNAY-BELLEVILLE.

SELF PROPELLED TORPEDO. APPLICATION FILED JAN.19,1914- l 1 5 1 1 65;. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

, 'UMTET) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT DELAUNAY-BELLEVILLE, O1 ST.-DENIS, SEINE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO THE SOCIETE ANONYME IDES ETABLISSEMENTS DELAUNAY-BELLEVILLE, OF ST.-DENIS, SEINE, FRANCE, A CORPORATION OF FRANCE.

SELF-PROPELLED TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed January 19, 1914. Serial No. 813,136.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT DELAUNAY- BELLEVILLE, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at St.-Denis, Department of the Seine, in France having invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self- Propclled T orpedoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In self-propelled torpedoes actuated by turbines, the moving parts are arranged in such a manner that no disturbing action can take place either in direction or in the trajectory, produced by the gyroscopic effect of the disks or by reactions on the hull.

It is impossible to predict a priori exactly what effect will ensue from the different forces acting on a torpedo, and in particular it does not sulfice merely to balance systematically the parts in motion according to their value and direction in order to obtain a perfect dynamic stability because it is necessary to compute simultaneously the reactions which will be produced by the expansion of the gases in the injectors and at the outlet from the buckets and finally in their passage through the hull in order to reach the exhaust orifice.

The present invention has for its object a method whereby the necessary general stability is obtained by predetermining and regulating the momentum of the parts in motion which will insure the dynamic equilibration of the forces. To this end, a centrifugal pump which may be thus em-- ployed for feeding the generator or the heater, is provided for pumping water from the hull, said pump rotating in the opposite direction to the driving turbine. By pro viding on the delivery side of this pump either a cock or a discharge valve having a suitable resistance, the output can be varied as desired, and at a predetermined moment, owing to the movement of the wheel and the jets of projected water, a gyroscopic effect will be produced directly opposed to that of the driving turbine; by guiding the jets of water a positive reaction will also be produced on the hull which will equilibrate the sum of the opposing reactions. In other words a certain output of the pump will correspond to a position of dynamic equilibrium of the whole apparatus.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, a method of arranging the various parts. This drawing is a portion of a vertical section through the axis of a torpedo.

Referring to the drawing, the shaft of the turbine A carries at one end a small pinion B for driving the gear C of the pump 1) 1n the opposite direction to the turbine. The water pumped from the hull through the orifices E, is delivered by the pump D to a diffusing channel H provided with vanes, thence this water passes to the generator or to the heater (not shown in the drawing) through a pipe F provided with a valve C or alternatively with a discharge valve having the desired resistance. This valve Gr permits of varying the output of the pump as desired, for the purpose of obtaining, as

has already been stated, a moment of inertia of the wheel and of the jects of water, which will balance the sum of moments of inertia of the same value but in the opposite directi on, produced by the other parts in motion in the torpedo.

The driving turbine A is preferably provided with one disk only; its angular speed being very great it is necessary to interpose speed reduction gearing in order that the propellers may rotate at a. suitable speed. The gearing is inclosed within a casing J comprising a double cover E forming a space L, within which water which has been pumped from the exterior of the torpedo circulates through the small orifices M; the water discharge taking place through the orifices N. The heating of the water by the wall of the outer casing K insures its circulation within the cover L; this circulation effectively protects the gearing against the heat of the gases which traverse the compartment P to reach the exhaust orifice. The water discharged by the pump D may also be caused to circulate in the compartment L to protect the gearing against heatmg.

The casing J constitutes the oil reservoir Q; the level U of the oil in the lower part of the casing is above the gearing I in order that the latter may not transmit thereto the heat which it acquires through friction.

The oil is delivered by a pump provided With gearing T, T which draws it in to the casing J through the orifices B, and distributes it to the bearings through the conduits S.

I claim:

1. In a torpedo, the combination with the driving turbine, of a centrifugal pump driven in the opposite direction to said driving turbine, and means to vary the output of the pump, for the purpose described.

2. In a torpedo, the combination With the driving turbine, of a centrifugal pump, means to drive said pump in the opposite direction to said turbine, and a valve to control the output of the pump, for the purpose described.

3. In a torpedo, the combination With a rotary driving motor, of a centrifugal pump driven in the opposite direction to said motor, and means to vary the output of the pump, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROBERT DELAUNAY-BELLEVILLE.

IVitnesses HANsoN C. Coxn, EMILE KLoTz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

